Games to watch: The Bruins will play eight games against Baseball America's preseason Top 25: March 1 vs. No. 5 N.C. State; April 8 at No. 4 Cal State Fullerton; May 9-11 vs. No. 2 Oregon State; and May 16-18 vs. No. 11 Oregon.

Outlook: UCLA will have plenty of obstacles in trying to defend its 2013 national title. The Bruins lost their top two starting pitchers and will rely on unproven former reliever James Kaprelian to anchor the rotation on Friday nights. All-American reliever David Berg is still there to close out games, but UCLA's pitching staff has a lot to prove otherwise. On offense, the Bruins have already been hit hard by injuries, losing outfielder Eric Filia, who was key in last season's undefeated World Series run, for the season (shoulder). They also could be without infielders Kevin Kramer (shoulder) and won't have second baseman Kevin Williams for a month. But some young talent will have the opportunity to step up, and it'd be unwise to doubt what reigning Coach of the Year John Savage can do with a raw, yet talented pitching staff.

RYAN KARTJE

LOS ANGELES – It’s 10:30 a.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Monday, and a calm has settled over the field. The hum of lawnmowers cutting the infield grass is the only sound to be heard, four days before the defense of UCLA’s first national baseball title begins.

The quiet is almost disarming, given how much noise the Bruins made last postseason.

It’s been almost eight months since the Bruins wrapped up an unprecedented 10-0 run through the College World Series with a dogpile on the mound in Omaha, Neb. Now that defining image is immortalized in a large photo on the wall outside the stadium, one of many reminders of UCLA’s unlikely run to a championship.

“Last year was the perfect storm,” said Coach John Savage, who’s sitting in the top row of the bleachers along the third-base line. He's looking out over right field, where the wall reads “National Champions” in large letters. “Now, this is the calm before the next storm.”

But Savage knows the eight months since that fateful June dogpile have been anything but calm.

In early July, just a week after the title was won, USC offered to make Savage the highest-paid coach in college baseball. He turned the offer down, but admits even now it was a hard decision.

Six weeks later, a federal court judge ruled in favor of a group of veterans that alleged the land Jackie Robinson Stadium was built on had been invalidly leased. Before a judge ruled UCLA could appeal, giving the Bruins at least another year in the stadium, it seemed the defending national champions would open the season without a place to play.

The stadium, Savage says, is the least of his concerns. With only a few days before UCLA’s opening series against Portland begins Friday, UCLA’s coach is dealing with much more immediate questions on the field.

UCLA’s top two starters will be replaced, with former reliever James Kaprelian (Beckman High) taking over as the No. 1 starter. Its best offensive weapon the College World Series, Eric Filia, is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his torn labrum. Infielder Kevin Kramer could join him, pending a doctor’s appointment Monday to determine the health of his own shoulder injury. Infielder Kevin Williams will miss the first month. Then, there are the five recruits lost to the draft – the most Savage has lost in one class and a group that included talented prospect Kosuke Gatoh, who would’ve started immediately.

That being said, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare, with players like All-American and single-season saves leader David Berg and postseason standout Pat Gallagher returning.

“No one cares about your injuries,” Savage said. “No one cares about losing people to the draft. ... No one feels sorry for you. But this year, we got hit a little bit harder than we anticipated.”

Savage knows better than anyone that the mindset of a defending champion can be a delicate balance. As the pitching coach at USC after its 1998 title, he watched as No. 1 USC was stampeded by Texas in a three-game sweep to open the 1999 season.

So even with all the reminders of last season’s amazing run, there will be no dwelling on the past. And there certainly will be no self-pity, even with tough circumstances to start the year.

“No one picked us last year,” Kramer said. “I don’t think anyone picked us to get out of our regional even. We know that approach works now. It’s a successful formula. We’re trying not to overthink it. … We’ve already dealt with more adversity than most teams will all season in college baseball.

“The team that’s battle-tested throughout the season is going to be the one standing at the end of the year.”

After an hour or so in his office, Savage starts looking for one of the 65 national championship rings he handed out. He hasn’t looked at his much lately; it sits at home, where it’s safe.

Once he finds one, he runs his finger along the diamonds that surround a large ‘B’ in the center. He points out the “10-0” inscribed in the gold on one side. After a few minutes, he puts it away in a bottom drawer. There’s no need for further reminders.

The same can be said for his players, who find themselves wearing their rings less and less. Kramer refuses to wear his – superstition, he says. And Berg, who made the final out in last year’s World Series, says he doesn’t want it anywhere near him.

Last season’s championship is behind them, it seems. But the calm of a title-winning team still remains, even with an uphill climb ahead.

“As great of an accomplishment as (last year’s title) was and as much as I’ll look back on it when I’m done, what we did last year doesn’t mean anything this season,” Berg said. “This is a new team, a new year."

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